Wondering about Texas SNAP benefits 2025 –2026? After the November shutdown, full payments are back. Here’s exactly how much you’ll get, who qualifies, and your November–December Lone Star Card schedule.
If you’re asking “How much food stamps will Texas give you right now?” – you’re not alone. More than 3.4 million Texans (including 1.7 million kids) rely on SNAP every month, and the rules just changed again in 2025. This guide gives you the exact 2025–2026 numbers, clear examples, and tools to know what you’ll actually get on your Lone Star Card.
Current Status: Full SNAP Payments Resumed After the 43-Day Federal Shutdown
Good news first: As of November 10–28, 2025 (depending on your EDG number), every Texas household is receiving their full monthly SNAP benefit again.
- Early November: Many families only got 50–65% because of the federal government shutdown.
- Mid-November: Congress passed emergency funding → Texas HHS loaded the remaining amount onto Lone Star Cards automatically.
- No action needed from you if you already received a partial payment – the rest is coming or already there.
Check your balance 24/7 by calling 800-777-7328 or using the free YourTexasBenefits mobile app.
Maximum Monthly SNAP Allotments: October 2025 – September 2026 (Official USDA Numbers)
These are the highest amounts a household can receive if net income is $0.
| Household Size | Maximum Monthly Benefit |
| 1 person | $298 |
| 2 people | $546 |
| 3 | $785 |
| 4 | $994 |
| 5 | $1,183 |
| 6 | $1,421 |
| 7 | $1,571 |
| 8 | $1,789 |
| Each extra | +$218 |
Example: A family of 4 in Houston with very low income will get the full $994 starting with their November or December load (whichever comes first).
Texas Gross & Net Income Limits 2025–2026 + Asset Rules
| Household Size | Gross Monthly Income Limit (130% of poverty) | Net Monthly Income Limit (100% of poverty) |
| 1 | $1,696 | $1,305 |
| 2 | $2,292 | $1,763 |
| 3 | $2,888 | $2,221 |
| 4 | $3,483 | $2,680 |
| 5 | $4,079 | $3,138 |
| Each additional | +$596 | +$459 |
Asset rule: Most Texas families don’t have to worry about savings – see the next section on Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility.
Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE) in Texas – The Rule That Skips the Income Test for Thousands
This is the #1 thing people get wrong.
Because Texas uses Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility, many households automatically qualify for SNAP without the strict gross-income test if they:
- Receive any TANF-funded service (even a one-time $1 brochure), OR
- Have a child getting free school meals, OR
- Are already on Medicaid in most cases.
Translation: If someone in your home gets Medicaid or free school lunch, you usually skip the 130% gross-income limit completely. Thousands of working Texas families qualify because of this rule.
How Texas Actually Calculates Your Monthly SNAP Benefit
USDA formula Texas uses every month:
Maximum Benefit − (Your Net Income × 30%) = Your Monthly SNAP Amount
Step-by-step example – Single mom with two kids (household of 3), $2,200 gross wages, $1,100 rent + utilities:
- Gross income $2,200
- 20% earned income deduction − $440
- Standard deduction − $223
- Shelter costs over half remaining income → excess shelter deduction − ~$400
- Net income = ~$1,137
- 30% of net income = $341
- Max benefit for 3 = $785
- Final SNAP amount = $444 per month (rounded down)
Use the official Texas prescreener here: YourTexasBenefits.com prescreener tool (takes 5 minutes).
Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) Rules in Texas 2025–2026 – Where the 3-Month Limit Still Applies
If you’re 18–54, able-bodied, and have no kids living with you:
- You can only get SNAP for 3 months in a 3-year period unless you work/train 80 hours per month.
Good news for most of Texas: 41 counties (including Harris, Dallas, Travis, Bexar) still have waivers in 2025–2026. If you live in a waived county, the time limit doesn’t count right now. Check the interactive map here: Texas ABAWD waiver map.
Simplified Reporting & TSAP for Seniors and Disabled Texans
If your household has only elderly (60+) or disabled members and no earned income:
- You only recertify every 24–36 months (not every 6–12 like everyone else)
- You get a higher shelter deduction cap ($712 instead of lower amounts)
- You’re automatically exempt from the gross income test
This is called Texas Simplified Application Project (TSAP) – one of the easiest SNAP programs in the country.
Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) and Hot Foods Waiver in Texas
Texas gets major storms. When the governor declares a disaster:
- You can buy hot foods with your Lone Star Card for a limited time
- Extra D-SNAP benefits may be issued even if you’re over normal income limits
Recent example: Hurricane-season counties got hot-food waivers through December 2025 in some areas.
Immigrant and Mixed-Status Family Rules in Texas (Public Charge Explained – 2025 Policy)
- U.S. citizen kids qualify even if parents are undocumented
- Lawfully present immigrants qualify after 5 years (or sooner if refugee/asylee)
- Getting SNAP for citizen children does NOT hurt parents’ future green-card applications under current public-charge rules
Many mixed-status families in Texas leave benefits on the table because of old myths – your citizen or legal-resident child can still get help.
What’s Changing in 2026: No More Soda & Candy + New Work Rules
Starting April 1, 2026, Texas will be one of the first states to remove sugary drinks and candy from SNAP-eligible items (USDA waiver approved).
New work requirements expand to ages 55–64 and parents with school-age kids 14+ (starting late 2025 in some areas).
Where to Get Free Help in Texas Right Now
| Area | Phone / Resource |
| Statewide | Call 2-1-1 (24/7, 200+ languages) |
| Houston/Harris | 713-590-3199 – Houston Food Bank SNAP team |
| Dallas | 214-330-1396 – North Texas Food Bank |
| San Antonio | 210-431-8326 – San Antonio Food Bank |
| Austin/Travis | 512-684-2550 – Central Texas Food Bank |
| Legal Aid (appeals) | Texas Legal Services Center – 855-278-6875 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much SNAP will a family of 4 get in Texas November 2025?
A: Up to $994 if net income is very low. Most working families get $400–$800.
Q: When will my November SNAP hit my Lone Star Card?
A: Based on the last two digits of your EDG number – full schedule here.
Q: Can I still get SNAP if I own a car?
A: Yes – Texas excludes one vehicle completely, and the equity value on others is very generous.
Q: What if I just started a job?
A: Report the change within 10 days – your benefits will adjust, but you won’t lose them immediately.
Still unsure? Use the official Texas SNAP prescreener (100% anonymous) or call 2-1-1 today.
You deserve to know exactly how much help is available – and Texas wants you to get it.
Final Words: You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone
Right now, millions of Texas families just like yours are putting groceries on the table because of SNAP. Whether you’re a single parent in Houston, a senior in the Panhandle, or a working family in the Rio Grande Valley, the benefits you qualify for are yours by right — and the rules are actually designed to help more people, not fewer.
After the November 2025 shutdown scare, your full Texas SNAP benefits 2025–2026 are loading again, and the numbers on this page are the exact, up-to-date amounts straight from USDA and Texas HHS.
So take the next step today:
- Run the official prescreener (it’s anonymous and takes 5 minutes)
- Call 2-1-1 if you get stuck
- Or just walk into your local office — they want to help you succeed
You’ve already done the hard part by looking for answers. Now let Texas put food on your table while you handle everything else life throws at you. You’ve got this — and Texas has your back. For more SNAP Updates, must visit SNAPUSDA.COM
